Tim Lane - Time for a Tasmanian Team

[catman2006]

Not really a hard one this.

Tasmanian side should play up at York park.

Hobart,Launceston,Burnie and Devonport could all have social clubs with which the supporters can identify with.

Financial support to the team would come in various forms of sponsorship.

Some budding entrepreneur will set up a Bus,Rail or air flights to get people from Hobart to the ground.

 

[Blues_Man]

Um where do they play cricket in Hobart?

On a CRICKET ground...that is not AFL approved

 

[catman2006]

Yet Bellerive has had state of origin games when it was running.

 

[Zeke]

On a CRICKET ground...that is not AFL approved

Fancy that... Clarence Footy Club have been playing on a CRICKET ground all these years.

What a disgrace.

 

[NYE TTTT]

Someone should tell him about the team Tassie already has.
The great Tassie Hawks.

He means a permanent team DER BRAIN!

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

Fancy that... Clarence Footy Club have been playing on a CRICKET ground all these years.

What a disgrace.

Not to mention the VFL matches that are held in front of thousands of people every 2nd week at Bellerive.

 

[catman2006]

Tasmania could support an AFL team, both financially and on the field. The thing is Tasmania will never get an AFL team, lets face it, New Zealand and Singapore will have a team in the Australian Football League before Tasmania ever does.

Tasmania should just jump on the A-League bandwagon. Getting crowds of around 7,000+ to A-League practice matches at York Park is pretty impressive considering 3 or 4 of the teams in the A-League get less or only slightly more to their regular season matches. This won't happen though, since it's Tasmania, as we've seen New Zealand get a side in the Australia Soccer League before Tasmania.

What about the Australian Basketball League? I won't even bother we all know New Zealand and Singapore have sides while Tasmania is, yep, not involved.

I find it ammusing that the only side Tasmania can boast is a cricket team. What's wrong with Australian cricket, get with it, New Zealand and Singapore should have sides, not Tasmania, what a fass. Tasmania can't even support a team, they don't have a big enough population to produce competitive players, they are a blight on the competition and are bringing it down.

Tasmanians should just get with the picture, you're not apart of Australia, you're worse than New Zealand. Go join some other country, you're not welcome here.

Why aren't you supporting another team then.

 

[Blues_Man]

Fancy that... Clarence Footy Club have been playing on a CRICKET ground all these years.

What a disgrace.

wow ..clarence are playing in the AFL now ...well there ya go you learn something new everyday ...

 

[Blues_Man]

Not to mention the VFL matches that are held in front of thousands of people every 2nd week at Bellerive.

the VFL is suddenly the AFL now ...you slowbartions are a bright lot

 

[Blues_Man]

Yet Bellerive has had state of origin games when it was running.

really ??? and here i was thinking those games were played on the tiny North Hobart mudpit

 

[catters05]

On a CRICKET ground...that is not AFL approved

Not yet, but if the AFL moved into town I dont think it would take long to approve it.

 

[BK Eaglesfan]

I don't know enough about the north v south mentality down in Tassie, but I would have thought maintaining one AFL standard ground would cost enough, without maintaining two for 6 games a piece. From the times I've been to Tassie the trip between Hobart and Launceston is pretty cruisy, if people would get behind the team from anywhere in the state the home ground would hopefully be a non issue.

With respect to crowd numbers, the sheer upper limit of the ground would likely result in memberships being sold out well in advance, as best case scenario would be an Eagles / Crows (and now Dockers are getting close) situation where if you want to see them play, buy a membership, so get your @ss on the waiting list now. Much as on one side people think the Eagles could make some more dollars if Subi was bigger, at present if you want to see them play, put yourself on the waiting list and become a member. If I live in Victoria and support the Bulldogs (for example - but same applies to all of them bar maybe Collingwood), I can generally decide an hour before the game whether I feel like going or not based on which ground, who the opposition is, if we're likely to win (and yes EVERY club has 'those' supporters), what the weather is like etc etc. An Eagles fan can do that in Perth, but has already paid for a ticket for the whole year. I believe this would likely happen in Tassie.

 

[Blues_Man]

Not yet, but if the AFL moved into town I dont think it would take long to approve it.

your post right there shows your ignorance on these matters ...the AFL have been in town for some time now...the ground is not up to AFL standard .

 

[catman2006]

really ??? and here i was thinking those games were played on the tiny North Hobart mudpit

So the AFL who used to look after The state of origin series has used the ground wouldn't take much for the current adminstration to do the same.

Think next time blues man.

 

[Hawkk]

Interesting to see Kennett's rebutal in today's 'The Final Word'

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799495.html

Finances make push for team on Apple Isle fruitless

Jeff Kennett
March 8, 2007

TIM Lane's article "It's time to unleash sports-mad Tasmanians on the AFL" (The Age, March 6, 2007) is a continuation of his understandable attachment to his home state, full of emotion, but lacking reality and financial rigour. Lane's views are not new, and represent a wonderful concept, but the consistent missing ingredient over many years has been that, if it was possible to do, it would have been done, long ago. Tasmania would have its own football team.

Sadly, there are too few companies in Tasmania of a size that would contribute significant financial support to a Tasmanian team. The reality is those companies cannot justify such an expenditure; they have been asked and have declined.

Secondly, there are too few corporates that would require of a local club corporate hospitality, which would add to the viability of a Tasmanian team.

The second option of relocating an existing AFL team from Victoria to Tasmania has had some support, including that most recently from Sunday Age columnist Michael Voss. The relocation would require a complete relocation from a Victorian team to Tasmania, meaning players, their families, administration and their families.

All home games would have to be played in Tasmania and, assuming this means 11 home games, they could be split between Hobart and Launceston. Aurora Stadium accommodates 22,000, while Bellerive Oval would need considerable work done on it and accommodates only 15,000. The relocated club would never have a gate above 22,000 without there being substantial extra works conducted.

The third option is what is taking place now where a Melbourne club — Hawthorn — which has had a genuine attachment with Tasmania over many years, has entered into an arrangement to play four home games in Launceston.

This provides an affordable option for Tasmania and one that will deliver positive outcomes over the next five years.

Hawthorn is not just visiting Tasmania four times a year: we have employed officers in the state, conducted a pre-season camp in Tasmania and are attempting to enter the state's lifeblood.

The opportunity for providing leadership in securing a team within or for Tasmania has existed for years, but no one has done the work or, failing that, been successful in achieving that goal.

To finance an AFL team at the low end of the financial scale would cost approximately $25 million per annum. Let's assume a Tasmanian-based AFL team attracts $2 million through memberships (based on 25,000 members), $2 million gate revenue and merchandise of $1 million. Further assume the AFL's contribution for salary cap, etc, comes to $6 million. That's a total of $11 million, leaving a further $14 million per annum from other sources.

Even factoring in assistance from the Tasmanian Government ($10 million) and the AFL ($4 million), this new Tasmanian club, scraping by with $25 million as its financial base, would still not be competitive with any of the interstate clubs, nor with Collingwood or Essendon. But at least it would be on the field.

If Lane feels as strongly as he does about a Tasmanian team, I suggest he puts that passion to work, develops a business plan and heads a group to make it happen. Meanwhile, we at Hawthorn are doing everything we can to give Tasmania a real connection within the AFL.

 

[Tas]

Interesting to see Kennett's rebutal in today's 'The Final Word'

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799495.html

Finances make push for team on Apple Isle fruitless

Jeff Kennett
March 8, 2007

It backs up what everyone has been saying about the development regions, there is not enough money there to support an AFL side. Talks about relocation should end until they can prove otherwise.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

Why doesn't Tim get his beloved & broke Blues down there? Maybe take his drag queen daughter down too so we don't have to look at her anymore.

Are you for real? Sam's the hottest woman in football!

 

[bigcoxy]

It backs up what everyone has been saying about the development regions, there is not enough money there to support an AFL side. Talks about relocation should end until they can prove otherwise.

Where there is a will there is a way.. It has been out of the news for far too long now! To make progress people need to beleive it is possible. All it takes is a few of the "big boys" in tas to come to the table together and there are all of a sudden options.

True, at the moment Tassie still has a way to go, but putting it on the backburnner and out of the limelight helps no one.

 

[RememberMe]

Interesting to see Kennett's rebutal in today's 'The Final Word'

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799495.html

Finances make push for team on Apple Isle fruitless

Jeff Kennett
March 8, 2007

The AFL should just continue to hold up the failing Victorian clubs. Tasmanians are already bought and sold on the AFL. No more money to make there. It should create a team on the Gold Coast, because then it would make a lot more money. This would mean it would have a lot more money to hand out to the cash strapped Victorian sides, thereby guaranteeing their future. After all, Victoria is the only state with football history, and Victoria started the league, so if any clubs are going to struggle financially, it should just be the Victorian clubs. Why start another club that might need assistance? That would just mean there would be less money to hold up the Victorian teams. **** Tasmania. They have a VFL side. Tasmanians should get behind it. It should be pretty good since it has the best Tasmania has to offer (lol) and the Kangaroos reserves. As for the Hawthorn deal, the Tasmanians should get behind that. Why shouldn't the AFL pay a champion team like Hawthorn 15 million dollars to play a few games in the state?

 

[pazza]

Obviously Jeff doesn't know Peter Hudson's phone number. Because it is he, as head of the AFL Live Task Force, who has the business plan in place for such a move.

 

[bigcoxy]

The AFL should just continue to hold up the failing Victorian clubs. Tasmanians are already bought and sold on the AFL. No more money to make there. It should create a team on the Gold Coast, because then it would make a lot more money. This would mean it would have a lot more money to hand out to the cash strapped Victorian sides, thereby guaranteeing their future. After all, Victoria is the only state with football history, and Victoria started the league, so if any clubs are going to struggle financially, it should just be the Victorian clubs. Why start another club that might need assistance? That would just mean there would be less money to hold up the Victorian teams. **** Tasmania. They have a VFL side. Tasmanians should get behind it. It should be pretty good since it has the best Tasmania has to offer (lol) and the Kangaroos reserves. As for the Hawthorn deal, the Tasmanians should get behind that. Why shouldn't the AFL pay a champion team like Hawthorn 15 million dollars to play a few games in the state?

What are you on about? Seriously mate, that is all over the shop.. jiberish!!

As for the VFL side being the best Tas has to offer (with the kangas). Mate think long and hard about what you are saying.. Look at the talent from Tassie in the AFL as we speak.. ON VFL level of course it's the best but as far as the best actual players the state produces they are scattered around the nation in AFL clubs!!

Tassie one of the four great footy states of the country, and do deserve a team in the national competition.

 

[sherb]

Tassie now has an AFL quality venue, which happens to be in the best location to service the state's unique population spread. (ie, play AFL games in Hobart and you are all but counting people from the North-West out of the equation).

I see little sense in developing a second AFL quality venue in the state when York Park exists, at least in the short to medium term. If that is how the situation remains, then splitting games between the North and South is not an option.

Now that the North has the venue, the Northerners won't want to lose games to Hobart. If they did, it is highly questionable whether they would support a southern based side.

On the other hand, if York Park were to stay as the AFL preferred venue, there are enough people in the South who believe in their God given right to host AFL football that they would never support it.

I always believed that three basic things needed to be addressed for Tassie to field its own AFL club. First was having an AFL quality venue (now solved). Second was the cost & funding (difficult, yes, but I think that could be overcome).

The last one was the population spread and associated issues. For an AFL side to succeed in Tassie the entire state needs to be behind it and work together. The parochialism that exists in Tassie virtually assures that this won't occur.

So in my view, it is the stupid North-South squabbling which will ensure that the state never gets an AFL side.

 

[Gridlock'd]

Of course Jeff Kennett is going to say that though.

 

[Blues_Man]

So the AFL who used to look after The state of origin series has used the ground wouldn't take much for the current adminstration to do the same.

Think next time blues man.

Oh dear i think i'm conversing with the stupidest individual alive

No the haven't used the ground you idiot

 

[catman2006]

Oh dear i think i'm conversing with the stupidest individual alive

No the haven't used the ground you idiot

So state of origin does not count then, even though it was run by the AFL.

If i am a idiot you are plain dumb.